Link: http://www.chieftain.com/news/pueblo/forum-discusses-issues-facing-color...
Pueblo Chieftain
Article: October 19, 2017
BY ZACH HILLSTROM THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
The initial strategic action plan released by SAPGA in November 2016 details that the expected influx of seniors between now and 2030 will affect every facet of everyday life for millions of Coloradans, "from the economy, to transportation systems to the workforce."
This development could be especially impactful on Pueblo County, which, according to the Colorado State Demography Office, has a slightly older age distribution than the rest of state with a large share of the population over 50 years old and currently has 24 percent of its population within the baby boomer generation -- a slightly higher figure than both the state and national averages of 23 percent.
A brief presentation by Riesberg about the work that's been done thus far by SAPGA preceded an open discussion period, as participants were separated into groups and asked what issues they deem to be most pressing to local seniors.
A wide variety of concerns were voiced by the more than 70 seniors, first responders, senior advocates and community members who attended the forum, many of which seemed to focus on accessibility and affordability of resources.
Citizens identified issues such as a lack of affordable housing for the elderly, expensive health care and insurance, insufficient information about financial planning and poor communication about resources for seniors as some of their primary concerns, which seemingly align with many of the concerns voiced by Coloradans at SAPGA events statewide.
"When you talk to seniors, the important issues are: health, transportation -- we call it mobility because it's not roads and bridges, it's how to get people from one place to another place -- housing, financial retirement savings, caregiving issues and having an adequate workforce to take care of the needs people are going to have," Riesberg said.
"So those are the types of issues that continually rise to the top in every area that we've been in."
Riesberg said it was important to SAPGA to hold forums in separate areas of the state, in order to assess what issues are deemed to be most important on a region-by-region basis.
"There won't be just one solution because the state is so very different," he said. "We have cities, we have the plains, we have the mountains, and they all have different needs. . . . So we need to get a better idea of what's happening all around the state."
"The important thing is that we're not coming to talk at them, we're coming to listen to them.